Park Clean-up: May 9, 2009. 9 am - noon

Hi All,
Hard to believe it is that time again. Maybe to mix things up a bit we could start leveling the mulch in the mound in preparation for some planting next fall. Of course, we'll take a look around for weeds and trash as well.

Hope to see you there.
Barbara
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PARK CLEAN UP: SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2009, 9 am - noon

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

See you soon!

April 11, 2009 Clean-up: Enemy No. 1

From Native By Design

On another beautiful day at the Nature Park, our efforts went to removing a lot of garbage (some rather interesting in nature) and finding and removing the above seedlings: castor bean (Ricinus communis)- enemy no. 1.

For the last few months, we focused our attention on the milk thistle, but there were few of these in evidence this time. Now the castor bean is sprouting. If you go to the park feel free to remove any of these that you find. Here's a picture of one still standing. Notice the large oval first leaves (cotyledons) and the palmate true leaf. It is often reddish in color.

Castor bean seedling

From Native By Design

Be very careful to avoid poison oak. This is an important native plant that has good habitat value: it provides cover and food for many animals.

Beware - Poison oak

From Native By Design

Poison oak

From Native By Design

The park is doing well as the following pictures attest.

Park Entrance on Pasadena Ave. (Bush sunflower, black sage and poppies in bloom)

From Native By Design

Baby blue eyes

From Native By Design

Info sign on Pasadena Ave.

From Native By Design

Mexican elderberry

From Native By Design

Sugar bush

From Native By Design

Native plant, everlasting, sprouting on its own

From Native By Design

Deer grass, black willow and coyote bush

From Native By Design

But not all is perfect. The following picture is taken of the main central part of the park. It was supposed to be a grassland but became overcome with weeds during the first winter and spring of its existence. The city then added mulch to smother the weeds. We need to direct our attention to this area. I am hoping to level the area this year in preparation for planting in the winter. Since birds need high, medium and low cover - and we already have nice medium and high vegetation - we should consider using low-growing scrub plants. Buckwheat, black sage, deer weed, monkey flower, bush sunflower are all good candidates that are native to the Arroyo Seco. A generous sprinkling of wildflower seeds would be just the thing!

Does anyone else have thoughts on this?

From Native By Design

Park Clean-up: April 11, 2009. 9 am - noon

I realize I have not but updating this blog much but will try to get something up after this weekend's clean-up. I also realize that many of you will be busy with Easter/Passover family activities. If you get a chance to stop by, please do. I'm not sure I will be there for the whole time, but I will try to arrive by 9 am.

Meet at the park info sign on Pasadena Ave and then head down into the park. The group will pull weeds, pick up litter, and enjoy the park. Come for the whole time, for an hour, or just stop by to say hello.

Nature Park entrance on Pasadena Ave., east of the York St. Bridge

Remember to:
- wear sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
- bring water
- bring gardening gloves and tools (weeders, trowels, whatever you use in your own garden)
- comfortable work clothes, including work shoes (sneakers or boots)
- binoculars for bird watching (optional)

Children must be under adult supervision at all times. There is poison oak in the park, which we will point out before we start.

Please pass this info along to anyone else you think might be interested in the park. If you know of anyone who doesn't use the internet, let me know so we can be sure they are kept in the loop.

For more information email me at: barbara.eisenstein@gmail.com.